SabrinaFair

Well, I'm sitting here watching CBS's "Sunday Morning" while getting ready for church. I don't normally go, but I have an overwhelming desire to sing Christmas songs. Anyway, the last story was fascinating to me.

The subject was "Trading Up", an American phenomenon where middle class people buy a limited number of top-of-the-line luxury items. These items are in a category that the consumer values. For some people, it's a great car. Other women insist on their dream kitchen. These items are sometimes bought after scrimping in other categories, such as buying generic toliet paper or driving an older car.

Do you "Trade up" on certain items? Compared to income, my roomate trades up on liquor. She will not drink cheap liquor. What do you think of this phenomenon? I personally think it must be uniquely American (International TFP-ers, feel free to dispute me if I'm wrong) I haven't formed my own opinion yet...I believe I'm going to read the book, aptly titled "Trading Up". Has anyone read it? All right, enough questions...discuss.